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Experimental investigation of a photovoltaic thermal collector with energy storage for power generation, building heating and natural ventilation

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  • Gan, Guohui
  • Xiang, Yetao

Abstract

A phase change material (PCM) can be used for thermal management of photovoltaics and thermal energy storage. This paper presents a photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system integrated with a PCM as a thermal storage medium for managing the photovoltaic temperature and together with a ventilation duct for preheating supply air or natural ventilation of a building. The novelty of the integrated PVT/PCM system lies in using the PCM as a passive technique not only for PV cooling but also for building heating and ventilation. Experiments have been carried out on a prototype PVT system for different sizes of PCM. The results show that a 30 mm thick PCM layer with a phase change temperature of 25 °C can maintain the PV temperature below 45 °C and improve the PV electrical efficiency by 10% for about 210 min under 600 W/m2 insolation. Increasing the PCM thickness by 10 mm increases the time for thermal control by 60–70 min. The PVT/PCM system is able to generate a 15 L/s ventilation rate in a vertical duct of 1100 mm wide, 1200 mm high and 100 mm deep during the melting phase and at least 20 L/s during the solidification phase. Use of metal fins to enhance heat transfer in the PCM can increase the PV electrical efficiency further by 3% and the ventilation rate by 30%.

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  • Gan, Guohui & Xiang, Yetao, 2020. "Experimental investigation of a photovoltaic thermal collector with energy storage for power generation, building heating and natural ventilation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 12-22.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:150:y:2020:i:c:p:12-22
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.12.112
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    6. Vengadesan, Elumalai & Senthil, Ramalingam, 2020. "A review on recent developments in thermal performance enhancement methods of flat plate solar air collector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
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    8. Fu, Zaiguo & Liang, Xiaotian & Li, Yang & Li, Lingtong & Zhu, Qunzhi, 2021. "Performance improvement of a PVT system using a multilayer structural heat exchanger with PCMs," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 308-317.

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